Billabong Pro Tahiti: Day 2 Highlights From Teahupo‘o
Day two of the Billabong Pro Tahiti wasn’t the most exciting day we’ve ever seen at “the world’s heaviest wave,” but in between the strong gusts of wind and long lulls there were some moments of beauty. Take Miguel Pupo’s heat against Yadin Nicol. The two Hurley riders met up in a wave-filled affair and exchanged barrel after barrel. While Miggy took the win, Yadin can hold his head high, any other heat his score of 16.97 points would have got him through. It was a tough break for Yadin during a tough break filled year.

Other casualties included newly returned Hawaiian Dusty Payne, Pat Gudauskas, and last years surprise of the event, Matt Wilkinson. Next up is round three, and with not a lot of swell on the horizon, one can assume that Billabong and contest director Luke Egan are just going to push through in the average surf and finish the event as soon s they can. Bummer it’s not like last year, but trust me, when Chopes is in the three-to-four foot range, it’s the funnest wave ever—but that’s not what these guys are pad for, we want to see the carnage. Maybe next year when I make my grand return… —Justin Cote

Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti enjoyed historic conditions for the 2011 installment, but faces the challenge of a less-than-ideal swell forecast for this season’s event. Despite this hurdle, the world’s best surfers have been tearing into the chunky lefthander of Teahupo’o the past two days and, once again, the Brazilians proved to be in top form.

Miguel Pupo (BRA), 20, led the South American charge today, netting an incredible 18.97 out of a possible 20 to eliminate Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26, and advance through to Round 3. In the young Brazilian’s first competitive showing at Teahupo’o, Pupo exhibited superb tube-riding skills on his forehand. “The waves were really fun for our heat,” Pupo said. “The waves are stop and go out there. Some heats have waves and some do not. We were happy to have a lot of waves in our heat. This is my first time competing at Teahupo’o so I am just trying to get as many waves as I can and build my experience.” Pupo will take on Owen Wright (AUS), 22, in Round 3 of competition.

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 24, current No. 11 on the ASP WCT ratings and last year’s recipient of the coveted Andy Irons Award, posted a commanding win today over Dusty Payne (HAW), 23. Flores’ comfort in the South Pacific reef pass is indicative of his development in powerful reefs all over the world. “I grew up in Reunion and now live in New Caledonia so I spend a lot of time surfing over reefs,” Flores said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have conditions like we did last year, but when the waves come, Teahupo’o is still an excellent barrel. Most places in the world would kill to have waves like we have today so it’s all good.” Flores will face Heitor Alves (BRA), 30, in Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

Kieren Perrow (AUS), 35, tour veteran and current ASP WCT No. 31, broke through a rough slump at the start of the year with a convincing win over Tiago Pires (PRT), 32, today. The 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters champion pig-dogged his way to an impressive 16.60 out of a possible 20 heat total and advanced directly to Round 3. “It’s been a tough start to 2012 for me so it feels great to get a heat win again,” Perrow said. “I feel like I’m surfing well and I’m getting good boards off of Darren (Handley) so everything is there. It’s just about putting smart heats together. Today’s conditions are so much cleaner than yesterday’s so when the waves do come through they have great potential.” Perrow will take on Round standout Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25, in Round 3 when competition resumes.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7am start. Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti are calling for a mixed bag of pulsey, shorter to medium period South and SSW swells in the 3-5’ range on the face (chest-head high) for tomorrow.

When competition resumes, up first will be two-time ASP World Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, up against Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 30, in the opening heat of Round 3. For more information, log onto www.ASPWorldTour.com

The Billabong Pro, Tahiti is made possible with the valued support of international partners Air Tahiti Nui, Sony, Xperia Sony Smartphone and Red Bull, along with our friends at Nixon, VonZipper, Mana and Hyundai.